2008 Smart Fortwo Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 1%of 140 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 76,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2008 Smart Fortwo, 1% of the 140 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 76,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Vehicle in my garage, found vehicle battery box and passenger seat flooded due to the air conditioning condensation tube joint located in the battery box disconnected. Vehicle would not start, vehicle will not start, even after emptying the water from the battery box and recharging the battery. Have a read multiple complaints concerning this issue on the Smart blog. Possible electric shock issue as well as all electrical and lights out.”
NHTSA complaint #10899842, filed 2016-08, 110,000 miles“The car just shuts off at anytime whiledriving in d your just a sitting duck cant use gear to unlock trammission so it could be moved out of way of on comming traffic, theres no warning the cars is in the shop now, this has happen to other Smart Fortwo owners, its a death trap wating to happen needs to be fixed before more people lose there life, look at GM .54cent could have saved many lose lives. Please help the public,,”
NHTSA complaint #10577830, filed 2014-04, 43,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11031580Apr 16, 2026Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to…
- 11017500Apr 28, 2025Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky…
- 11017496Apr 28, 2025Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to…
- 11007974Sep 21, 2024Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky…
- 11007753Sep 10, 2024Complaint Headlamp or front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead…
- 11005294Jul 23, 2024Complaint Rear lamps fogged up/not leaktight. Cause Fogging of the rear lamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. This does not lead to…
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2008 Smart Fortwo
33 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
32 complaintsElectrical system
20 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsSeat belts
10 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Smart Fortwo
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology